Biography

British amateur rider Ben Way (28), who based near Rugby in Warwickshire, gained a career best at Badminton in 2016 when he finished in 12^th place with Galley Light. In 2015 on their Badminton debut he won the prize for the ‘best first timer. ’

Last year he made his Nations Cup team debut competing in the first American nation’s cup competition in The Plains, Virginia.

Ben is one of the few amateur riders at this level – he is a Chartered Surveyor and Land Agent working in Cirencester.

Ben grew up on his family farm in Warwickshire. In 2010 he completed a BSc (Hons) in Rural Land Management at the Royal Agricultural College after which he joined Butler Sherborn in Cirencester, where he heads the equestrian property side of business. Ben is a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors having qualified in 2013.

Ben began his riding career with the North Warwickshire Pony Club and represented the branch at the National PC Championships in eventing, dressage and showjumping. In 2009 he gained the prestigious Pony Club A test. He has hunted all his life with the Warwickshire – both his mother and stepfather have been former Warwickshire Masters – and spent a few years point to pointing.

Ben began affiliated eventing in 2007 his first rides were on Jane Starkey’s former advanced horse Davy. He did his first CCI1* in 2008 and his first CCI3* in 2014 at Belton with Badminton entry Galley Light.

Ben trains with Ruth Edge and Christopher Bartle. Outside of eventing he enjoys shooting and skiing.

Galley Light, owned by Elisabeth Collins & rider, is a 14-year-old Irish-bred thoroughbred gelding. His is by Turtle Island out of a mare by Be My Native and is from the same dam line as the stallion Cruise Missile and racehorse Spartan Missile. He was acquired by his owner, from breeders Charlie and Carol Swan who raced him in Ireland. Donald McCain Jnr currently trains his half brother. Although ostensibly bought as a hunter his ability meant he was given to Camilla Cotton who started him off in eventing when he was seven, and the ride was then shared between Camilla and Ben – Camilla gave up the ride when she went to work for NH trainer John Ferguson.